Clearing the ocean of plastic can seem like an impossible task. People all over the country have been cleaning up plastic along fjords and the sea in a big way in recent years. Especially after a quail in 2017 was found with a stomach full of plastic outside Sotra, there have been numerous actions with enthusiastic plastic cleaners. The “Plastikvalen” actually caused one in four to pick up plastic that same year. At the same time, the amount of plastic in the ocean is enormous. But does it help? Now a group of researchers has found the answer. And what they found is surprising – very positive. Huge amounts of plastic and waste were collected from Lisle Lyngøyane outside Øygarden. Photo: Pandora Film The horror island with plastic In the sea gap outside Øygarden lie the Lisle Lyngøyane. When researchers first came to the island a few years ago, pieces of plastic, ropes and huge amounts of other rubbish lay floating in the dirty water. Samples from the soil showed that there was plastic down to one and a half meters below the surface. In 2020 and 2021, researchers were on the island to carry out investigations to find out what plastic rubbish does to nature, and not least whether cleaning up plastic actually works. It is on this island that the researchers have studied carefully to find out the effect of cleaning up plastic. Conclusion: Cleaning up plastic can reduce the mass of microplastics a year later by as much as 99.5 per cent. Report from Norce The main conclusion in the report is that several negative effects of plastic pollution have been demonstrated for both the ecosystem itself and the animal and plant life on Lisle Lyngøy. Plastic cleanup can mitigate these effects. Regular and systematic cleaning of the coast will effectively prevent the type of complex environmental damage caused by marine plastic. Surface clearing of plastic and other waste was carried out after fieldwork in August 2021 followed by maintenance clearing in April 2022. Plastic clearing led to a significant decrease in the total mass of microplastics in freshwater and sea at the beach zone already the following year. The results from the project emphasize how important it is to clear plastic from the environment, and to carry out regular maintenance cleaning. The results show that by removing plastic from the soil, inhibition of microbial activity can be mitigated. Biodiversity in freshwater on the island increased after plastic removal, but it is not possible to conclude whether this is due to less plastic, or natural variations. From the report: How plastic and the clean-up of plastic affect the ecosystem on Lisle Lyngøyna, Norce CLEAN-UP DUGNAD: Last year around 20 tonnes of plastic and rubbish were collected during the big campaign Rein Hardangerfjord. On Ringøy in Ullensvang, the locals found a lot of rubbish on the shore. Photo: Tale Hauso / news 99.5 per cent of microplastics gone The researchers from Norce have recently published the answer. Their report states that it is useful to clean up plastic, and to a much greater positive extent than expected. – One of the most important findings is that cleaning up plastic reduces the amount of microplastics the following year, says Gunhild Bødtker, senior researcher at Norce. – This research here will raise commitment and oblige governments around the world that resources must be used for this, says Kenneth Bruvik, chairman of Framtidshavet. Microplastics Microplastics are small plastic particles in the environment ranging in size from 5 millimeters down to 1μm. According to research at the University of Georgia, at least eight million tons of plastic are added to the ocean every year. A Norwegian report from Mepex Consult estimates that approx. 8,000 tonnes of microplastics in Norway each year. The consultancy company Eunomia has made calculations for emissions globally and estimates that the world’s oceans are supplied with approx. 950,000 tonnes of microplastics each year. The primary source is small microplastic articles smaller than 5 mm, which are added to products such as cosmetics, toothpaste and textiles. The second source is larger plastic items that turn into microplastics when they break down over a long period of time. In Norway, car tyres, paint, artificial grass pitches, plastic pellet production and textiles are among the biggest sources of microplastic pollution. A report from the Norwegian Environment Agency shows that rubber granules from artificial grass pitches may be the second largest source of microplastics on land. The plastic particles are spread on the sea and beaches. Scientists have also detected microplastics frozen in arctic ice, in fresh water and in soil, as well as in air. (Sources: The Norwegian Environment Agency, Keep Norway Clean.) In terms of numbers, it is microplastic that is by far the most in the ocean. But counted in mass, the larger particles (macroplastics) outweigh the microplastics by several orders of magnitude, according to The Ocean Cleanup. Big difference from last year and this year There is good news for plastic cleaners elsewhere in Western Norway. Last year, a large-scale campaign was launched to clear the world’s fifth longest fjord, the Hardangerfjord. Over 2,300 volunteers participated and cleared 20 tonnes of plastic and rubbish. This year it was again ready for a clean-up campaign with over 800 participants in 63 actions. And one thing stood out. During this year’s action, you could see that several places that were cleared last year looked much better this year. A total of 11 tonnes of plastic was cleared. Cleaning of a cove in Ølve in Kvinnherad under Rein Hardangerfjord in 2022. Cleaning of a cove in Ølve in Kvinnherad under Rein Hardangerfjord in 2023. A cleaning team of around 20 people from the seafood industry was last year responsible for cleaning a hidden cove in Ølve in Kvinnherad. In just a few hours, they cleared over 1.4 tonnes of plastic and waste. In the shed, there were large things such as jugs, blowers and outdoor furniture. Underneath the turf were layers upon layers of plastic that had been there for many years. – It was completely shocking to see. It was very impressive how bad it was, says Henrik Horjen in Sjømat Noreg. But this year the gang was back in the same vik. Now they could see that there was little rubbish and plastic there. – It is very reassuring to see that it is useful, says Horjen. During the plastic donation, the volunteers have found everything from jugs to outdoor furniture. Photo: Tale Hauso / news – Must avoid plastic ending up in the sea Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre thinks the report is good news. – It is very gratifying, he says. But he emphasizes that plastic littering is still a problem. – As Kenneth Bruvik says “when can we turn off the tap?”. We must now avoid rubbish and plastic ending up in the sea, says the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister met Kenneth Bruvik at Møvik quay in Øygarden. Bruvik talked about the work on cleaning up plastic in the sea. Photo: Stian Sørum Røkenes / news Global plastic agreement? But now there may be a solution in the long term. This week, the Nordic Council of Ministers presented a new report at the UN which shows that plastic pollution can be reduced by 90 per cent by 2040 if a global plastic agreement is put in place. The agreement obliges UN member states to take action to reduce plastic pollution and plastic consumption, in addition to establishing a circular plastic economy. – Now we have the opportunity to put an effective plastics agreement in place, says Climate and Environment Minister Espen Barth Eide. Will the countries agree on a common plastic agreement? Yes, of course! No, that will never happen. Show result
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Plastic cleaning actually works – here they clean the entire fjord – news Vestland
